Peterson picks, very disappointed!

[lockpicking27]

I'm a noob to lockpicking, and as you can see this is my first post on the forums.

I just wanted to share my thoughts on a recent purchase. I decided to order a set of Peterson "just picks", five various picks that were allegedly made of "government steel" and of much higher quality than normal picks.

First, I see no difference between these picks and the ones in a standard Southord set. They are the same shape exactly, except thinner. They don't seem stronger or better in any way, just thinner.

Also, the handles are made of vinyl that emits a strong toxic smell. The smell rubs off on your hands when you use them and you must wash your hands to get it off. These handles bother me a lot and make the picks unusable for me. I will give these picks away to anyone who wants them for free.

Overall, I'm not impressed at all with Peterson. They seem to be using the strategy of making their products expensive in the hopes that people who don't know any better will think it's the best. I feel like I've been scammed, but at least I didn't order one of their full sets for several hundred dollars.

[Wizer]

Hi, and welcome to LP101!
I´ve bought the same set, I´m happy with mine.
These picks flex really nicely to reach into a tight keyway. I can´t say much about their durability, the picks were so expencive, that I´m really gentle with them. Not one has even bent yet.
But I think they should have thrown in a leather ( or even imitation) case. With a price like this, you´d expect a little more than a weak plastic box.
I never noticed the smell. Then again, I´m a smoker, so I´m propably missing a lot of other smells too.
Anyway, I´m sure most people on this forum would love to give you Petersons a good home.
Happy picking!
-Wizer

[thededer]

ill take em

[femurat]

Since you are a beginner, let me be skeptical about your opinion... whatever it is.
In this case I think that Peterson makes very good tools, even if they're a bit overpriced.

Cheers

[MacGyver101]

In this case I think that Peterson makes very good tools, even if they're a bit overpriced.

I agree, 100%.

I've ordered several sets from them, and have never received a set with a "strong toxic smell" (or any smell, for that matter).

I like them for exactly the reason you mention: their slender picks are very thin... yet, despite that, they are just as strong as the picks that are three times their thickness (SouthOrd, etc.). Whatever smell you're noticing will soon vanish... and as you gain some experience, you'll soon come to realize that thinner picks provide way more feedback, and will be far easier to use in any locks that have more complicated warding. (If you're still working with padlocks or a Kwikset, though, you won't yet appreciate be able to appreciate the difference.)

Keep working at it... with those tools, you've given yourself a huge advantage over the folks who start with a couple of paperclips and quickly find themselves frustrated. Best of luck!

(And if, at the end of the day, you're not happy with them, I'll happily pay your shipping costs to send them my way...)

[LocksmithArmy]

having the vast ammount of peterson picks i have, I have never noticed a "stron toxic smell" either.

Sometimes ther is a little layer of some sort of liquid/oil/rubbery solution on the dipped handles(i believe its part of the manufacturing process) if you got a bad batch and it happens to be too strong for you just wash em... use dawn and hat water im sure itll come right off man.

they are just as strong but much smaller... if you purchase their full size picks they are the same size and WAY stronger... I also love the way those handle bend in your grip while picking but if its not for you than its just not for you...

I suggest keeping them and buying some SouthOrds. pick with the cheaper picks then switch once you are confident in your skills... see the difference

[lockpicking27]

I'm already not happy with them, the handles are a deal-breaker for me.

Thededer asked first and as already PM'd me about it, so I'll send them to him. Message me where you want them sent Thededer.

Another one of my hobbies is knives, so I know a little bit about different steels. After having the picks, I'm a bit skeptical about Peterson's "proprietary government steel". If they use a premium steel, why not just say what it is?

Whether or not the picks are good in other respects are, for me, negated by the cheap rubber/vinyl dipped handles. They're the same handles that come with the basic SouthOrd sets, except SouthOrd's are slip on and you have the option of not using them. Also the smell on the Peterson's is stronger.

For the price, they should use a more luxurious (and non-toxic) handle. Even g-10 plastic would be preferable. Are there any picks out there that actually have nice handles?

[Squelchtone]

For the price, they should use a more luxurious (and non-toxic) handle. Even g-10 plastic would be preferable. Are there any picks out there that actually have nice handles?

HPC has nice handles, but maybe I'm just jaded by the anozdized colorful finish you can get them in. Going back to your bad experience with Peterson:

Peterson makes several handle types. dipped (multi color), hard plastic (blue), and rubber (black) I have all 3 types and I like the red dipped foam type handles, but the black rubber is the most comfortable I've ever used. I also beleive they have new shiny dipped plastic, that is not as "foam-y" to the touch. I have not had those to test out yet.

HPC makes nice foam covers as well, and my favorite half diamond (from Doug Farre, thanks Doug!) has one of these foam handles and I can pick for hours without my hands hurting.

some nice color photos, so you can see other handle options:
http://peterson-international.com/picksets_detail.html#E2

the HPC with foam handle I spoke of, along with some Peterson picks and others:


a comparison of tangs:


Peterson picks work well.


Hope you can find something you like,
Squelchtone

[FarmerFreak]

I also love the way those handle bend in your grip while picking but if its not for you than its just not for you...

The flexible foam handle is the one and only thing I don't like about them. I bought a slender gem and a hook. One of the first things I did was rip that foam off and rivet some HPC handles to them.

Like the other people though, I don't remember smelling anything toxic about them.

[Josh K]

Since you are a beginner, let me be skeptical about your opinion... whatever it is.
In this case I think that Peterson makes very good tools, even if they're a bit overpriced.

Cheers

+1.

Overpriced though they may be (and when I spoke with Ken that was one of the first things he asked, how do you like the insanely overpriced picks you bought?) they are very good.

[lockpicking27]

The Peterson picks with the checkered solid plastic grips don't look like they would smell and probably don't, however mine consist of the other two handle types. A solid and textured vinyl substance.

Just like with a new car smell (which is several toxins including formaldehyde), someone wouldn't necessarily think of this vinyl smell as toxic unless they knew what's contained in it. In the manufacturing process for these types of rubbers and plastics, a lot of volatile substances are used such as mercury and organic chlorine compounds. This is why a lot of parents won't let their kids play with vinyl toys.

Because the picks are something I'm going to be holding in my hand for extended periods, I would really like a different kind of handle.

I like the metallic handled HPC picks and the purple handled picks that squelchtone posted in this link:



Can anyone give me more info about the purple handled pick?

[Josh K]

The Peterson picks with the checkered solid plastic grips don't look like they would smell and probably don't, however mine consist of the other two handle types. A solid and textured vinyl substance.

Just like with a new car smell (which is several toxins including formaldehyde), someone wouldn't necessarily think of this vinyl smell as toxic unless they knew what's contained in it. In the manufacturing process for these types of rubbers and plastics, a lot of volatile substances are used such as mercury and organic chlorine compounds. This is why a lot of parents won't let their kids play with vinyl toys.

Because the picks are something I'm going to be holding in my hand for extended periods, I would really like a different kind of handle.

I like the metallic handled HPC picks and the purple handled picks that squelchtone posted in this link:

http://nynex.s5.com/lp101/bogota_rake_n ... _picks.jpg

Can anyone give me more info about the purple handled pick?

That is a rake by ratyoke pick. (viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37925)

[ToolyMcgee]

Another one of my hobbies is knives, so I know a little bit about different steels. After having the picks, I'm a bit skeptical about Peterson's "proprietary government steel". If they use a premium steel, why not just say what it is?

For the price, they should use a more luxurious (and non-toxic) handle. Even g-10 plastic would be preferable. Are there any picks out there that actually have nice handles?

There is only one idiot who makes lock picks from premium stainless steel w/ the strongest sythetic handle materials. He would charge you 4X the price of a basic pocket set for a single pick in tissue paper.

The peterson's are nice picks. The set you bought is made of spring steel w/government steel tensioners. It's misleading. Get the blue plastic handles and your experiences might be different.

[thelockpickkid]

LOL! This is the funniest post I have ever read, a guy who thinks Southord picks are better than Peterson!!! What the heck!! In my opinion Southord is the crappiest picks made. If you really don't like the Petersons, try some HPC's if you don't like them, then you need a different hobby! Happy picking.

[thededer]

its not that he doesnt like the picks its more the handles he doesnt like